ADVENT WEEK 4
December 22, 2024
Innovative Concepts Mission:
Reaching and redeeming the Unchurched, Making Disciples,
and Multiplying Leaders who establish vibrant churches,
bringing hope and renewal to every community we serve,
to further the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
WELCOME
Good morning, and welcome to Innovative Concepts Church. We’re so glad that you’re here! My name is
At IC, one of our values is inclusivity. Why? Well, it’s one of the big reasons why we’re a family. We want everyone to be included. And because we’re a small group, this is a safe place to do that. But don’t worry. We’re not going to force you to do anything you’re not comfortable doing. We just ask that come and see, and go along for the ride with us.
So speaking of inclusivity… we’re going to start by doing an ice breaker. That’s right! We want you all to talk to each other and get to know each other a little bit. So please, go and introduce yourself to three different people. When you meet them, you’re going to share these things: your name, where you’re from, and the best Christmas present you ever got
and why. Any questions? (Allow for questions.) OK. Ready - set - go!
[ALLOW CONGREGANTS TO MIX FOR 5-10 MINUTES.]
ADVENT RECAP
Welcome everyone! I hope you enjoyed sharing your favorite Christmas gifts. My name is
This week marks the fourth week of advent.
The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.”
When it’s used by the Church, the word refers to:
The “arrival” of Jesus Christ when he was born on the original Christmas Day, and the upcoming “arrival” of Jesus Christ when, as Christians believe, he will return to judge the living and the dead.
So, the season of Advent is a season of preparation and waiting. We first prepare and wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
As part of our service last week, we read a scripture together as a group. We will do the same today. I will read the parts labeled leader, and the rest of you will read the parts labeled group.
Leader: The purpose of this reading is to turn our hearts from what has happened and awaken our hopes for what is to come. Today’s reading comes from Revelation 5:1–11:
‘Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,
Group: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
Leader: And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me…
Group: “Weep no more! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Leader: And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
Group: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests
to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”’
Leader: May God bless the reading of His Word. —Revelation 5:1–11
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
As we celebrate the first Advent - the first coming - we look toward the day when we will see you face to face. Give us a heart that looks to Your coming on a daily basis. Help us to live lives where we constantly seek your presence. Show us the distractions in our lives that block us from worshipping You fully. Give us the strength to ask for forgiveness and to change our ways.
Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE FOURTH CANDLE
To help us visualize advent, we have an advent wreath. Each candle on the wreath represents a different theme. Our first theme was hope, beginning with John the Baptist as he prepared the way for Jesus by preaching a message of repentance. The second theme was peace, in the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The third candle was the shepherds’ candle, celebrating joy.
The fourth candle is the angels’ candle, with the theme of love. On the day Jesus was born, they delivered an important message, that Heaven’s love had finally come to earth.
Please read the following scripture with me. I will read the part labeled leader, and you will read the part labeled group.
Leader: We will be reading from Luke 2:8-18. If you were with us last week, we read this same passage, and we are reading it again.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,
Group: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Leader: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
Group: “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”Leader: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Group: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Leader: When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child
Group: and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Leader: May God bless the reading of His word. —Luke 2:8-18
[LIGHT 4 CANDLES]
WORSHIP
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING (Mendelssohn)
Verse 1
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th’angelic hosts proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 2
Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail th’incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Verse 3
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
CCLI Song #27738
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #22235256
MESSAGE
[From https://thethirdcup.com/2014/12/the-angel-candle-4th-week-of-advent/]
[READER 1]
The fourth candle is often called the angel candle. It represents the messengers who announced the birth of the Messiah. What do you think of when you think of angels?
[READER 2]
Do you think of chubby little cherubs with curly hair and stubby wings? Often people think of friends or loved ones, especially children, who have died. At a funeral, you sometimes hear a grieving family member say God called one of His angels home. But, they are not the angels of Scripture.
[READER 3]
God uses His angels to execute divine judgment. In the book of Isaiah, God sends an Angel of the Lord to kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. In Genesis, God sends two angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. And much later, when King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride got the best of him, it was an angel which declared his kingship would be cut down like a tree. (Daniel 4:13-17)
[READER 4]
In Revelation, it only takes one angel to seize Satan and throw him into the pit for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1-3)
These are not chubby cherubs, but terrifying creatures who have authority to execute the judgment of God.
[READER 1]
Angels can also serve as protectors in times of trouble. It was an angel who shut the mouths of the lions in the book of Daniel. They also opened prison doors to free the apostles.
[READER 2]
Angels also serve as messengers, which is one of the main tasks we see them do in the Bible. Often when they appeared the first words they said were “Do not be afraid!’ This was probably because everyone there was afraid. The angels in the Word of God seem to have been terrifying. Men fainted, and women cried when they realized they were talking with an angel. After all, angels were the ministers of judgment sent from God. But, they were also messengers to those who had found favor with God.
[READER 3]
Let’s read another scripture. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was visited by the angel, Gabriel. He had a special message for her. I’ll read the parts labeled leader, and you read the parts labeled group:
Leader: We will read from Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,
Group: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Leader: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her…
Group: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”
Leader: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered…
Group: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
Leader: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
—Luke 1:26-38
[READER 4]
The angel Gabriel also announced to Zacharias that he would have a son, John, would become the last prophet to prepare the way for the Messiah. Gabriel also told Joseph, Mary’s fiance, that she was pregnant with the Son of God, and not to divorce her.
[READER 1]
The fourth candle reminds us that the angels are the messengers of God who, in this case, bring good news. The good news is that there is a new King in town, and He is taking over. That is the message of the angels to everyone who will listen.
[READER 2]
This kingdom is both a present and future reality. Jesus is the King, and He will always be King. As Christians, we live here on earth as citizens of the kingdom of the coming world.
[READER 4]
Christmas is a celebration we do together, but it is also something to be done individually. As a church, we celebrate the arrival of the Messiah, God’s tangible expression of love in flesh-and-blood, who would save His people from their sins.
[READER 1]
But do you celebrate Him as your personal savior? The one who saved you from your sins? Have you surrendered your life to become a member of His kingdom? If you have never surrendered your life to Christ what better time could there possibly be than now?
[READER 3]
We are now going to pray the Salvation Prayer. Please repeat after me:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I acknowledge that you are God’s son.
I believe you died on the cross
and shed your blood
for the forgiveness
of all of my sins.
Come into my heart today.
I commit to making you
my Lord and Savior.
Guide my life
and help me to do your will.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
If that was the first time you prayed that prayer, and you really meant it, please tell the person who brought you to church! That’s because we want to celebrate this important decision with you.
WORSHIP
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME
Verse 1
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ
Chorus 1
What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Verse 2
You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus You brought heaven down
My sin was great Your love was greater
What could separate us now
Chorus 2
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Bridge 1
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
Bridge 2
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
Chorus 3
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Ending
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood
CCLI Song #7068424
© 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #22235256
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (ADESTE FIDELES)
Verse 1
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels
Chorus
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
Verse 2
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav’n above
Glory to God all
Glory in the highest
Verse 3
Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
Verse 1 in Hawaiian
E hele mai oukou
Kapoe manaoio
E hele haouli i Betelehema
Hele mai a ike
I ka Moi hanau hou
Hui:
Hoonani kakou Ia ia
Hoonani kakou Ia ia
Hoonani kakou Ia ia
Kristo Ka Haku
Verse 2 Hawaiian
E na anela
Mele me ka oli
Mele ko lunapuali apau
No ke Akua Ka hoonani ia
C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade
CCLI Song #31054
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #22235256
Hawaiian Translation:
Zeo Worship (Hoonani Kakou Ia ia)
GIVING MESSAGE
[Adapted from https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/christmas-spending-is-a-test-of-your-treasure]
[READER 5]
Our giving message is a time for us to reflect on how and why we should give a portion of our finances to God. Today’s message is adapted from the article entitled, “Christmas Spending is a Test of Your Treasure,” by David Mathis.
[READER 6]
Christmas is a season of giving, and it’s also a time to test your treasure. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus challenges us to store up our treasures in heaven, rather than to idolize the things of this world, because they will eventually fade and/or be destroyed. So what is your treasure? Most of us can easily answer that question if we check our bank accounts.
[READER 7]
Not all money is bad. For most of us, the vast majority of our spending goes to meet our own needs and the needs of our families. That kind of spending is inevitable and necessary. It is a good thing. God provides us with income for those purposes. But in 1 Timothy 6, the Bible explains that the desire to be rich, and the love of money, is what often causes us to sin.
[READER 8]
So instead of loving money, we should view money as a tool that can be used both for practical needs, and to also accomplish long-term goals for God’s kingdom. And tools are made to be used. Holding onto money will not satisfy our souls or meet the needs of others. It also shows a lack of faith in our Heavenly Father’s provision.
[READER 5]
But the greatest test of our treasure is not whether we’re willing to spend it, but who and what we spend it on. The Christmas season presents us with an opportunity to look past the small joys of self-oriented spending, and to pursue the greater pleasure of blessing others. So the next time you’re about to make a significant purchase, ask yourself, “What desire am I trying to fulfill? Is this for myself, or to express love to a friend or family member? Does this advance God’s kingdom?”
[READER 6]
Giving money away also speaks. It is an opportunity to show, and reinforce, the place of faith and love in our hearts. It’s a chance to gladly pursue the first and second greatest commandments, and to cultivate the mind of Christ through our spending: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
[READER 7]
Another way to test your treasure is through sacrifice. Nothing shows our hearts like sacrifice. When we are willing not only to give from our excess, but to embrace some personal loss or disadvantage for the sake of showing generosity toward others, we say loudly and clearly, even if only to our own souls, that we have a greater love than ourselves and our comforts.
[READER 8]
Such sacrifice raises the question that has been under the surface all along with giving: Is there any reward for generosity and sacrifice?
While the New Testament does not promise physical rewards in this lifetime for our giving, it does teach that generosity can be a means of grace for our souls, and that God stands ready to bless those who give from faith. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
[READER 5]
God wants us to live our lives in freedom. He does not want us to be slaves to our material possessions; rather, these possessions are meant to serve our needs and to bless others. God also generously allows us to decide individually how we should spend our finances (2 Corinthians 9:7).
[READER 6]
In the end, as cheerfully as we may give, we cannot out-give the truly Cheerful Giver. God willingly gave His own Son (John 3:16) so that we could have a relationship with Him. God loves a cheerful giver because He is one, and every gift we give in Christ is simply an echo of what we have already received, and the immeasurable riches to come (Ephesians 2:7).
[READER 7]
Let’s pray: Dear God, Thank you for blessing us with all that we need, and allowing us the opportunity to be a blessing to others. We pray a special blessing over these tithes and offerings, that they would be used to transform the lives of those who need Your love. Thank you for being the best example of a cheerful giver, by giving us Your son, Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.
[READER 8]
As a reminder, there are three ways you can give to our church. If you would like to give with a credit card, you can do either through our website our app. If you prefer cash or check, there are envelopes on the tables where you can place your money. Please take a few minutes now to give. If you’ve already scheduled your online payment, take some time to pray and thank God for His blessings.
[READER 5]
Giving is an opportunity to be a part of what God is doing and make a lasting difference in our community. The money you give helps us sustain our youth group, and different outreaches like the Thanksgiving dinners, and even our new One Kalakaua ministry.
As the end of the year approaches, if you are looking to make a last minute tax deductible donation to a reputable organization, I urge you to consider our church. We want to continue helping others and transforming the world one life at a time.
[READER 6]
If you would like to give to our church, we are doing an end of year giving. You can go on our app or website to give there. There’s a drop down menu called Special Offering: End of Year Giving. Thank you for partnering with our church and making 2024 an amazing year!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
[STAFF PRESENT ANNOUNCEMENTS]
BLESSING
May you the love of God fill your hearts and minds, as we celebrate God’s greatest gift ever sent to earth – Jesus – who paid the price for our sins.
You are dismissed. Please help us clean up.